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(No Model.)

- H. W. WHITE.

KEY FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

Patented Mar. 1, 1887.

Fry. 6'.

INVENTOR Jiram wftii WITNESSES ATTORNEYS N PETERS. Phamlmw xa hmu Wnslunglcn. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM W. WVHITE, OF YANKTON, DAKOTA TERRITORY.

KEY FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,764, dated March 1, 1887.

Application filed June 3, 1886. Serial No. 204.036.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM \V. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yankton, in the county of Yankton and Territory of Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keys for Stringed Instruments; and I do declare the following to be a' full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of this invention, and is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a front viewof the bearing-plate. Fig. 3 is a vertical section.

My invention relates to keys for stringed instruments-such as guitars, banjos, violins, and the likeand it consists in the construction and novel combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the bearing plate, which is provided on its outer face with two ears or lugs, B and B, which lugs form the seats for the worm or adjusting screw 0, by which the shaft D may be turned to tighten or relax the string as may be necessary in tuning the instrument to which the key is applied. The bearing-plate A is provided near each end with a screw-hole, E, through which the screws by which the bearing-plate is secured to the head of the instrument are passed. The bearing-plate A is further provided with an oval or elongated slot, F, just above the worm or screw 0, which slot F forms the bearing-seat for the solid cylindrical portion H of the shaft L, the main body portion K of which is hollow, to give it the proper size, withlightness and strength and this portion K is pro vided with a hole, L, made diametrically through it at about the middle of its length,

(No model.)

through which hole L the end of the instrumental string is passed when it is desired to attach the string to the key. The rectangular portion M of the shaft projects beyond the integral solid cylindrical portion H of the same and passes through the elongated slot F in the bearing-plate A, and is axially bored and threaded in its rectangular portion M to receive the screw N, by which the milled head I? of the shaft D is secured in place.

A worm wheel or pinion, Q, provided with a rectangular seat, R, is slipped upon the rectangularportion M of the shaft L, and is held in place by the milled head 1?, secured to the shaft, as before stated. The adjusting-screw O is provided with a milled integral head.

In operation the end of the string is first passed through the hole L in the shaft, then the pinion is pushed forward out of gear with the worm-screw,andtheshaftis turned byits milled head until the string is wound up to near the proper pitch. The tension of the string will then, if permitted, pull the pinion into gear with the screw, and the screw may then be used to turn the shaft and thereby put the string in tune.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The combination, with the slotted bearingplate having the bearing-lugs in which the worm-screw is seated, of the shaft provided with the stringhole, the cylindrical solid portion, and the rectangular hollow portion having an internal thread, and the milled head removably secured thereon by a screw, sub stantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM V. WHITE.

\Vituesses:

.Taoon J. NISSEN, L. L. TYLER. 

